Reborn Olivia tells new lover, new passion
A top award, a new cause, a musical comeback, and she's in love - no wonder life's rosy!
Olivia Newton-John has rediscovered her passion for life. At 50, her career is back on track, she’s dedicating more and more time to environmental causes and, best of all, she’s in love.
Cameraman Patrick McDermott, 42, (pictured with her, opposite page, bottom right) has turned Olivia’s life around and she brims with happiness as she talks about her plans.
The Aussie singing icon is back home for a short holiday with her mother Irena after reintroducing her old friends The Bee Gees to Australia in March, when the group gave their first concert here for almost a decade.
Patrick isn’t travelling with her because of his work schedule, but she says he usually prefers to stay out of the spotlight.
“I think that if you’re in a relationship with someone, just because you are in the public eye doesn’t mean your partner also has to be scrutinised and talked about,” Olivia says. “It’s so hard to have privacy anyway, so I think it’s important to try and maintain it.”
The couple met while filming a commercial and Olivia says she was swept off her feet by Patrick.
“Our relationship is great”, she says. “It’s simply a lovely thing and so nice to be able to share my experiences with someone special.”
So what else is getting better as life goes on and contributing to Olivia’s bubbly mood?
“Chloe’s also a great joy,” Olivia says of her daughter, now 12. And the superstar says her love of nature has deepened, too. “I’ve always loved my friends and enjoyed nature and animals and all that really hasn’t changed. I just value simple pleasures a lot more these days, which I think is what happens as you get older.”
For the past five years, the environmentalist Margaret Owings, who recently died, was a great influence on Olivia. “She was very dear to me and a wonderful woman”, Olivia says. “Margaret, I would say, was the person I want to be when I grow up… if I ever grow up!”
“Margaret started the group Friends of the Sea Otter to help save these creatures from extinction. She also helped to remove the bounty on the cougar or mountain lion. People used to kill them for their skins and she helped to protect them. She also bought beaches and returned them to the State for public use. She loved nature and animals with a passion.”
Olivia obviously shares the feelings of her late mentor.
“Now that Chloe’s growing up, I’ll have more time to get behind environmental issues,” she says.
Her commitment has already won her the American Red Cross prestigious Humanitarian Award, which she received earlier in March. Olivia says the Red Cross holds a special place in her heart.
“You always see the Red Cross everywhere and tend to take them for granted”, she says. “But it was such an incredible honour to receive this award.”
Just as incredible is Olivia’s musical comeback. Despite her superstar status, it was only natural to wonder if the fans would still turn out after her long absence from live performances.
“And thank goodness they did!” she laughs.
The new buzz around her kicked off with last year’s celebrations to mark the 20th anniversary of the hit musical Grease - and has just kept growing. Olivia now plans to do a US summer tour, propelled by the success of her New Year concerts in Las Vegas and her hit tour with Anthony Warlow and John Farnham in Australia last year.
Olivia is especially delighted that the John Farnham band will now back her in California. I’ll call them “The Olivia Newton-John Farnham band!” she says.
Are these US concerts a sign of more tours to come?
“Don’t expect any Rolling Stones style marathons”, she laughs. “I want to restrict my working time to when Chloe’s on vacation.”
After her cancer scare, Olivia says that each day is precious. “I try to put aside special time for myself every day,” she says.
“The best time is early in the morning when I get up to feed the animals. Then maybe I’ll read the papers or meditate. It’s just great!”
Story: Sue Russell. Pictures: Michelle Day